Stand up to Royal Mail bullies

Is Royal Mail trying to bully workers out of their jobs to make room for others?

That is the question that union activists are asking after a series of sackings and disciplinaries.

After closing dozens of giant mail centres, the firm is struggling to relocate workers that it has promised another job to. Royal Mail agreed this approach with the CWU union as part of settling the national dispute of 2009.

Now a suspiciously large number of staff have found themselves on charges that could see them sacked, where previously they might have expected only a warning.

Others say management is making their lives intolerable.

One worker contacted Socialist Worker to say he was being disciplined for driving a short distance without his seatbelt. Despite years of unblemished service, bosses took him off duties immediately.

He is now off work with stress and wondering if he will be able to return.

The worker, who cannot be named, said his office was being swamped by special managers who normally deal with fraud investigations.

Now their job appears to be hunting down workers who commit minor offences, and throwing the book at them.

The CWU has a fine record of opposing such intimidation. Workers at the N1 delivery office in north London walked out unofficially earlier this summer over similar tactics.

United and militant union action is the best answer to Royal Mail tyrants.

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